Psalms 96:4
“For great is Yahweh, and greatly to be praised! He is to be feared above all gods.”
What does Psalms 96:4 mean?
When the psalmist says God is "great" and "greatly to be praised," they're inviting us into genuine wonder at who God is, not demanding flattery. The phrase about fearing him above all gods reflects the ancient world's understanding that other nations worshipped different deities, yet this psalm declares that the God of Israel surpasses them all in power and worthiness. That "fear" isn't about being terrified, but rather about holding God in the kind of awe and respect that shapes how we live, making him the center around which everything else finds meaning. It's an invitation to redirect our deepest attention and trust toward the one who truly deserves it.